How He loves us

Another great week.

Working with the schools last week was great fun. There were only two girls in the "veta" class but I think that it was beneficial to them. They had different standing positions on different life points or situations and Paulina and I helped them find Bible verses to help them. Thursday morning we helped at a schools Brekkie club. It was early in the mornind and outside = very cold. We cooked pancakes, toast, and handed out muesli bars. It was nice to get to talk to the kids (prep - year 9) even for just a little bit. We helped out with their morning break program where we played games with the kids like Uno, jenga, etc. as well as had jewelry making set-up for the girls. This was the first time it was done and 40-50 students (year 9) came!! Then we helped out with the "MAD" class where we helped students work on their charity fundraiser. I had dinner with the young lady I was talking about in the last post. We had a great time. We talked for the majority of dinner about God and what it means to believe. She wanted to know more about me and my walk. She asked about my bracelets and why I choose to believe. I am praying that God reveals Himself in a big and clear way to her. I know He has the power to do that. Please join me in praying for her.

I moved houses and then went with Paulina to Koorong, a Christian bookstore, on Friday. I bought "Not a Fan", so I will be starting that soon. Then she drove me by nearby mansions. Goodness! People be livin' it up. We didn't eat anything that day until about 4 p.m. and man were we hungry. I went back to her place where we ate and I worked on the message that I was going to be giving at youth that night. We got to church early because we were playing "LIFE". That's right. We were bring the gameboard everyone loves to...well life. The youth leaders all had stations and characters like: mayor, judge, policeman, doctor, banker, pastor (me), a king, a sketchy person, etc.. As a pastor my job was to marry couples, provide random jobs for the students employed at my church, and bless the babies. There were people busking around the room, running to get paid, gambling money, and trying to plead to get out of jail. Then it was time for me to give the message. I get a little nervous! First, we talked about the game and the things that we don't have control of in it..like loosing a job, going to jail, etc. We talked about our "priorities" in life..such as God, school, family..and then our real priorities in our everyday life like - texting, facebook, video games, etc.. We talked about the thing that matters in life- our relationship with God. The only thing that can't be taken away ever. We talked about how we need to thank God in every situation for He is that author of our circumstances. We need to trust in Him, even if we can't see the good in what He is doing.

I woke up Saturday to eat breakfast with my two new little sisters for the week- Jessica (5) and Jasmine (8). They are so cute. Em Small came and picked me up at took me to Chadstone shopping center. The biggest shopping center in the southern hemisphere. It was huge. Full of Tiffanys, Gucci, Chanel, Mcdonalds, Target, and too many others. I didn't really buy anything, but it was cool to look around for a bit. I spent the evening with my new fam for the next two weeks- and their nephews ( ages 4 and 6). The whole family is just precious. I stayed up watching a movie with the rents.

Sunday..I awoke to go to early service but stayed at home when I realized that the family was cooking brekkie for me. They made pancakes for everyone and we all sat down together. Guess what- they put ice-cream on their pancakes! It is an Aussie thing apparently because no one else here finds it surprising. We all walked together to church after playing AFL with the kids while waiting for everyone else. In sunday school I taught grades 3-4 about Nehemiah- a man who prayed to God no matter what he was going through. I spent the afternoon playing with the girls. We watched cartoons, colored, braided hair, etc.

I went to Ballarat Wildlife Sanctuary on Monday with Mel, Chase, Chrissie ( Mel's bff), and Ben ( Chrissie's bf). We got to feed kangaroos and emus. I saw a crocodile and thought of Steve Irwin. We saw tasmanian devils who are really creepy and got to "cuddle" a koala. We took numerous photos and had a good time! Koalas really aren't that interesting. They just sit there and eat. It was a great day, I got to check off a lot of things on my list in my head on what I want to do.

Today I went with the Frienship Group to the city. There were only 5 of us ladies and we went walking. We went along the bay where a lot of the ships come through. I saw where there is a ferry boat to Tasmania. We ate lunch on a dock overlooking the water. I ended up staying in the city for a bit with two of the ladies just walking around.